Hydatid cysts of the liver in children: percutaneous treatment with ultrasound follow-up

Hydatid disease is a serious public health problem in endemic areas. Percutaneous treatment is an effective alternative to surgical and medical therapy in hydatid liver disease (HLD). To present clinical and radiological results of percutaneous treatment of HLD in children. Twenty-five children (16 males; age range, 5-15 years; mean age, 9.6 years) with a total of 30 hydatid cysts of the liver underwent ultrasound US guided percutaneous treatment using hypertonic saline as the scolicidal agent. The percutaneous procedure was successful in all patients. All children were asymptomatic at follow-up. A hypersensitivity reaction occurred in one child (4%) during the procedure. No other complications occurred. The reduction in cyst volume was 14-100% (mean, 64%) at follow-up (mean 13.8 months). On US at follow-up, the treated cysts were semisolid with a heterogeneous echo pattern (n = 17), solid hypoechoic (n = 10) or solid with calcification (n = 2). One treated cyst disappeared sonographically. Percutaneous treatment of HLD is effective, safe and well-tolerated in children.